The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-02
OLD PETE MCCARTNEY.
Dat Of Prison After Twslys Years, Bat Again
in Usels Sans Clutches.
The Famous COunterfsiter I'm Hard Lines
and Unable to Comprehend the situa-
tion-Taken to Southern Illinois.

Peter Mccartney, the veteran counter
feiter, whose release from the Northern
penitentiary was chronicled in yesterdays
Sentinel, arrived from Michigan City at
:45 O'CLOCK yesterday afternoon in charge
of Deputy United States Marshal Stein.
He has greatly changed since he left this
city for the prison twelve years ago. He
has aged very rapidly and his former quick
and elastic step has given way
to the slow and measured tread of an in
firm man. OF his present condition
Mccartney remarked to Commissioner
Martindale. 81 am not the man | once
was. There was a time when could COM
prehend situation at glance, but now
l am unable to do so. My mind has be-
come to certain extent inactive and 1
am at loss to know lust what to do"
Alta o'clock yesterday afternoon Nc.
CARNEY was taken before Judge Woods,
and Assistant District Attorney Bailey
read the warrant, charging the defendant
with having in his possession several
fraudulent United States bank notes,
VIII ca he intended to circulate.
Can you give bsil?" asked Judge
Woods of old Pete who sat on q sofa in
front of his honor, with Thurman hand
kerchief tied about his otherwise unpro-
tected neck.
THAT cannot tell" replied the old
man as quick as flash. az might be able
to scrspe il up somehow, but it depends
on the amount
Say s.. OOOg' SAID the Judge.
sob, well, the here is no use of talk
ing. ! can't Civ that. | am perfectly
willing to go Owe 10 Illinois, anghow, for
when get to S. ngfield | will be within
forty miles of ny home"
When asked about the crime for which
he is now under arrest Mccartney said:
at is an old charge that was put against
me seventeen years ago, and there Is moth
ing in 1t. Bluford Wilson was District
Attorney there at the time, and he said
there was no case against me and refused
to prosecute it. | stayed around there
eight years and begged for a trial, and the
authorities never would undertake it..
cont think there is any doubt but that
can beat the case"
Judge Woods issued an order for his re-
moval to the Jurisdiction of the United
States Court for the Southern District of
Illinois, aud Deputy Stein left for Spring
field with his prisoner at IL o'clock last
night.
Mccartney is a small man; would not
weigh more than 135 pounds and 1t is
doubtful il his old friends will know him
when he reaches his home. He is closely
shaved and his former neat-6tting clothes
have given place to a rough-looking
second hand suit.
Judge Gresham, who sentenced Mozart
new under the name of Charles Lang, in
1875. for fifteen years, said, when asked by
Sentinel reporter what he remembered
| of his trial:
When Mccartney was brought before
me he was accompanied by his attorney,
! the late Major Gordon. The Government
had clear case against him and he said
that it was best for him to plead guilty and
throw himself on the mercy of the court.
Major Gordon made an eloquent plea for
his client and / gave the matter consider
able thought. l finally concluded that his
plea OF guilty did not mean any inclina-
ton on his part to do better,
but that it was only intended
to secure a light sentence. / was
abupdantIy So isfed that il was simply q
race between him and society. and for this
reason gave him fifteen years 1 can say
OF him, however, that l regard him as a
man of wonderful talents. with remarka-
| BILE nerve and courage. In my judg ment
| he Is the most successful cOunterfeiter tlIst
ever showed the queer in this country"
1t is understood that Mccartney will be
asked to plead guilty at Springfield, and
that il be does so he will be released on q
floater during good behavior. He has no
| kind word for his wife, who ne charges
with his financial ruin.